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! - More Information on Giing Global and the launch of the application process is expected to be available from March 2010 - !
Who is the course aimed at?
The Going Global programme is designed for developing entrepreneurs, CEOs and other ambitious executives of the business who have strategic responsibility. The programme is open to applications from companies from across all sectors in the Highlands and Islands. The course is aimed at the most ambitious entrepreneurs with growth potential and aspiration for their businesses. Places are awarded to H&I companies subject to a selection process against criteria based on business growth aspiration and global potential. Companies are only encouraged to apply for a place on the course if they fit the following criteria:
- Describe your business as ambitious
- Are committed to improving long term customer relationships by enhancing the value delivered by the business
- Are committed to enhancing the company’s revenue and profit performance
- Are interested in building a company that can successfully compete on the global stage
- Have a business plan you would like to develop using the help and inspiration of world-class entrepreneur and network of peers
- Be willing to share your experience with other aspiring Highlands and Islands entrepreneurs
- Commit to be available on the dates specified for the programme activities
The competition for applications to the programme will open in September 2009 for the Going Global Programme 1 and in May 2010 for the Going Global Programme 2 and will be announced through the HIE website, press and business networks in the Highlands & Islands.
What format does the course take?
Two cohorts of 10 -15 high growth businesses will work with MIT through the Going Global programme over a two year period. The programme has been established to provide teaching and mentoring to businesses for global expansion and growth yet be flexible to each individuals’ specific company needs.
The programme aims to rapidly improve the confidence, ambition and sales of businesses operating globally or with the ambition to become global. It helps businesses focus on niche areas of expertise and those parts of the business that will provide the highest level of productivity gain. Specifically the Going Global programme will allow businesses to develop skills in:
- Identifying and appraising current customers and markets
- Ensuring strategic business fit with these markets
- Developing confidence to become successful in these markets
- Niche product offering
- Understanding and defining the value proposition
- Selling techniques
- Techniques for establishing & maintaining a competitive edge
- Marketing tools
- Developing and maintaining relationships with customers and partners
- Techniques for establishing & maintaining credibility
- Accessing routes to new markets
- Assessment of impact on sales and market value
The programme will involve an initial two-day workshop in the Highlands & Islands for businesses to meet face to face. The group communication will then be managed remotely through virtual meetings, webinars, web casts and discussion forums. They will also receive regular remote mentoring on a one-to-one basis and where relevant their mentor will participate in senior management meetings, team meetings as appropriate to help progress ideas and issues raised through the mentoring with a credible, independent viewpoint. HIE will receive bi-monthly updates for participating businesses’ Account Managers and other HIE staff involved in account teams. An interim face-to-face workshop will be held after 6 months and then a final workshop will conclude the programme at the end of the year.
The course fee will be £2670 per person. This fee includes consultancy from an international expert over the 12 month period, the two residential two day workshops, the interim workshop and all venue and catering costs involved along with the cost of learning materials provided by the mentoring and the production costs of the remote webcasts, events and consultancy calls.
Going Global Programme 1 (2009 – 2010)
Deadline for Applications: September 2009
Successful Applicants will be advised by: October 2009
Diagnostic Consultancy Call: October 2009
Kick off Workshop: October/November 2009
Consultancy Call 1: December 2009
Webcast 1: January 2010
Mid-way Workshop: March 2010
Consultancy Call 2: April 2010
Webcast 2: May 2010
Consultancy Call 3: June/July 2010
Wrap up Workshop: August 2010
Cost: £2670 per person
What benefits to participating businesses are there?
- Increase in Productivity and Sales activity
- New International Markets established
- New International Partnerships established
- Accelerated Business Growth
- Increase in Ambition, Confidence and Strategic Clarity
- Implementing Change Strategies
- Developing new or improved Products, Processes or Services
- Becoming Leaders in a Market (sector, geography or niche)
- Accessing New Networks
- Introducing New Sales Channels and Partnerships
- Attracting External Investment into their businesses
Ultimately HIE believe the partnership with MIT will make a significant impact on GVA, but also more widely signs of success will be a sense of a true entrepreneurial eco-system in operation in the Highlands & Islands where businesses are:
- Operating on a global scale
- Larger in scale and size
- Pro-actively accessing and attracting investment in to the region
- Collaborating on a business to business international basis
- Increasingly involved in international programmes e.g. GlobalScot, Saltire Fellows
- Engaging in new models for collaboration with academia
- Increasing the levels of research income in to the region
- Increasing the levels of commercialisation activity
- Increasing numbers of highly skilled migrants moving in to the region
- Relying less on public sector support
- Celebrating and promoting success stories widely
Outcomes from H&I companies previously participating on MIT courses include:
Considerable benefit from the exposure to new thinking at MIT.
A feeling from businesses that MIT visits are different to other visits and more rewarding.
Evidence that those participating on the visit programme built links with other local businesses. {Several businesses felt that they now have a group "on whom they could call" if they needed advice or to talk through new ideas.}
Enhancement in the relationship between businesses and HIE and an increase in scope for ongoing or new joint project work. This has shown HIE as credible and serious about growth amongst the business base.
The opportunity to meet brilliant and leading academics, noting that having open conversations with them was of most value and of noticeable difference to businesses experiences of Scottish and UK academia.
Being able to take a completely different perspective on the challenges facing rural areas by looking at advanced thinking on urban solutions; and the openness and "can-do" approach of MIT staff, researchers and students.
A consensus amongst businesses that the Highlands and Islands were likely to derive more value from the relationship with MIT than with other research/academic organisations in the UK given their different approach and shared understanding of the purpose and aims of relationship.
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